Is this enough power?

[jnmtt]

I'm reading in a bunch of forums about the need for "quality" power supplies. I'm wondering if my current PSU is sufficient for my current system:

Athlon 64 3000 939
Abit AV8
2x512mb Corsair Value Select PC3200 Dual Channel
40 gb 7200 rpm hard drive
1 Lite-on CD-RW
1 Lite-on 8x DVD-RW
Floppy drive
Radeon 9600xt
MSI TV @nywhere Master TV tuner
3 40mm case fans

PSU: <b>Enlight 420w EN-8420934</b>
18A on 12v rail

I plan on getting a 160gb SATA drive soon.

 

[addiarmadar]

Well your wattage is good but id monitor your 5v and 12v rails to make sure they dont go +-5%. Otherwise, get a better one.

<i><font color=red>Only an overclocker can make a computer into a convectional oven.</i></font color=red>

 

[jnmtt]

I'm bumping my old post because I'm considering upgrading,

Current specs:
Athlon 64 3000 939
Abit AV8
2x512mb Corsair Value Select PC3200 Dual Channel
40 gb 7200 rpm hard drive
160 gb SATA hard drive
1 Lite-on CD-RW
1 Lite-on 8x DVD-RW
Floppy drive
Radeon 9600xt
MSI TV @nywhere Master TV tuner
3 40mm case fans
PSU: Enlight 420w EN-8420934 18A on 12v rail

PC has been working fine for the past year and a half.

Planned upgrade:
New PCI-Express mobo
1 x 7600 GT

Everything else stays the same. Will the PSU be able to handle the new video card? Will it handle 2 7600 GTs in SLI mode?
I have a couple 350W PSUs laying around, I can add one of them to run case fans, floppy drive and optical drives.

I use this http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp to calculate required wattage at 276w with one video card.

 

[pengwin]

if that PSU has 1 12v rail with 18A, i think u'll hit borderline since 7600GT's arnt power hungry (no extra power required) but it will handle 1 7600GT no prob, with 2 you may have an issue

 

[MrsD]

Id say its fine, but add another card and you'll be pushing it.
Why upgrade your mobo just to upgrade your video card? You should just buy a AGP card and upgrade your mobo when you upgrade your cpu. Ive seen 6800xt's for like $74 after rebate. You cant go wrong with that and it will hold you over for a bit. Just something to think about. Im waiting for the next big thing. Conroe? 65nm Athlons running ddr3? Before I upgrade my mobo, ram, cpu, ps, etc.
Just something to think about.

 

[pengwin]

hes right too because well...in th elong run u;ll eventually upgrade the mobo. if ur gonna upgrade th emobo get a high quality, one that will last u a few years.

 

[doolittle]

I think I have that power supply - well one that is just like it.

If this is yours...

Compare the specs to Thermaltake TT-420AD / W0009R very similiar... this is the unit I have. I think they share the same Highpower HPC-420 guts.

If you get SLI the dual PS (or "poor-mans dual-rail", as I like to call it) it would not be a bad idea since you would be close to max and HPC-420 is known to sag voltage quite a bit when loaded. Then you can brag about having SLI GPU and SLI power supplies

 

[jnmtt]

The new AGP card is an option, but the AGP equivalents to the PCI-E versions tend to be more expensive. Can't find an AGP 6800XT on PriceWatch or PriceGrabber or Newegg, alll PCI-E. Anyway the AGP Radeon X800GTO would be preferable, the PowerColor is $155 at Newegg. You're right, something for me to think about.

 

[MrsD]

Yeah your right, they seem to have disappeared in agp fast. My buddy does have a 6800xt agp, so I know they exist.
The best I could find for $100 on newegg is this. After rebate of course.
I was skeptical about rebates too, but Ive recieved 2 outta 2 in less than 4 weeks.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102666

 

[pengwin]

if u want a 6800XT i believe look for 6800XTreme from XFX, im not sure go for a 6600GT, amazing card for the money

 

[jnmtt]

Hmmm, a PSU thread turned into a video card discussion. Anyway, I want to move from a 17" CRT to a 19" widescreen LCD, so I need a card that can handle the higher resolutions. If I upgrade now, I won't upgrade again for another year or so.